Thursday, September 19, 2013

Iwe helps spur strong start for UIS soccer

Chukwuka Iwe has stayed true to the sport he loves.

The University of Illinois Springfield men’s soccer player was born in the soccer-loving country of Nigeria and didn’t abandon the game when he moved to the United States as a teenager.

“Chuks” as his friends call him was convinced by a coach to give track a try in high school, but it was only an experiment.

The junior midfielder wasn’t swayed by coaches or peers. His devotion to soccer has worked to his favor and that of the UIS men’s soccer team.

Iwe scored game-winning goals for the 3-1 Prairie Stars in back-to-back Great Lakes Valley Conference matches against Southern Indiana and Bellarmine last weekend.

The Stars were voted in the preseason coaches poll to finish last in the GLVC. They are currently in a three-way tie for first in the conference with a 2-0 league record.

Iwe was featured by The State Journal-Register on September 19, 2013.

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